Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-11-13

"Only tell me that I am forgiven" he
said, as he rose from the sofa.
Yes" she answered, quietly, YOU are
forgiven"
81 have not lowered myself in your esti-
nation, Agnes?"
"Oh, no."
'iDo you wish me to leave you"
She rose in her turn from the sofa, and
walked to the writing table before she re-
piled. The unfinished letter which she
had been writing when Lady Montbarry
interrupted her lay open OF the blotting
book. As she looked at the letter, and
then looked at Henry, that smile that
charmed everybody showed itself in her
face.
"You must not 60 Just yet" she said;
~ have something to tell you. l hardly
know how to express it. The shortest
way, perhaps, will be to let you find it out
for yourself. You have been speaking of
my lonely, unprotected life here. 1t is
lot a very happy life, Henry-1 W that. "
She paused, observing the growing anxiety
of his expression as he looked at her with
a shy satisfaction that perplexed him.
DO you know that l have anticipated
your idea?" she went on 81 am going 10
make a great change in my hfe-if your
brother Stephen and his wife will only con-
sent to it." She opened the desk Of her
writing table while she spoke, took a letter
out and handed it to Henry.
He received it from her mechanically.
Vague doubts, which he hardly understood
himself, kept him silent. 1t was impossible
that the change in her life, " of which she
had spoken, could mean that she was
about to be m~arried-and yet he was con-
scious of a perfectly unreasonable reluctance
to D the letter. Their eyes met; she
smiled again. "Look at the address, " she
said. "You ought to know the hand
writing--but l dare say you don't"
He looked at the address. 1t was in the
large, irregular, uncertain writing OF q
child. He opened the letter instantly:
DEAR AUNT AGNES: Our governess is
Sing away. She has had money left to
her and a house of her own. We have had
cake and wine to drink her health. You
promised to be our gOverness If we wanted
another. We want you. Mamma knows
nothing about this. Please come before
mamma can get another goyerneSs. Your
loving Lucy who writes this. Clara and
Blanche have tried TO write, too, hut they
are too young to do it. They blot the pa
per-"
"Your eldest niece" Agnes explained,
a. Henry looked at her in amazement
The children used to call me u q when l
was staying with their mother in Ireland,
in the autumn. The three girls were my
inseparable companiOns--they are the most
charming children l know. II is quite
true that | offered to be their governess, II
they ever wanted one, on the day when |
left them to return TO London. l was
writing to propose it to their mother just
before you came"
Not seriOusly?" Henry exclaimed.
Agnes placed her unfinished letter in his
hand. Enough of 1t had been written to
show that she did seriously propose to en-
ter the household of Mr.. and Mrs. Stephen
Westwick as governess to their children.
Henry's bewilderment was not to be ex-
pressed in words.
They won't believe you are in earnest, "
be said.
why not?" Agnes asked, quietly.
"You are my brother Stephens cousin;
you are his wife's old friend"
"All the more reason, Henry, for trust
ing me with the charge Of their children"
But You are their equal; you are not
Obliged TO gain your living by teaching,
There is something absurd in your entering
their service as a g~oyerness."
What is there absurd in it? The chill
dren love ne; the mother loves me; the
father has shown me innumerable instances
Of his true friendship and regard. | am
the very woman for the place, and rs to
my education, i must have completely for
gotten it, indeed, If | AM not fit TO teach
three children, the eldest Of whom is only
II years cid. You say / am their equal.
Are there no other women who serve a.
COVERINGS, and who are the equals Of the
persons whom they serve? Besides, don't
know that ! am their equal. Have / not
heard that your brother Stephen was
the next heir to the title? Will he
not be the new LOrd2 Never mind
answering me. We won't dispute
whether | am right or wrong in turning
governeSs; we will wait the event. ! am
weary OF my lonely, useless existence here,
and eager to make my lite more happy and
more useful in the household Of all others
IL WHICH L ShOulu hOoG ilh0 u ha'S q
place. If you will look again you will see
that l have these personal considerations
still to urge before l finish my letter. You
don't know your brother and his wife as
do if you doubt their answer. l believe
they have courage enough and heart enough
to say yes"
Henry submitted without being con-
WINGED.
He was a man who disliked all eccentric
departures from custom and routine, and
he felt especially suspicious of the change
proposed in the life of Agnes. With new in
terests to occupy her mind she might be less
favorably disposed to listen to him on the
next occasion when he urged his suit.
The influence Of the lonely, useless OK
i~stence' of which she complained was dis
~tinctly an influence in his favor. While
her heart was empty, her heart was acces-
sible. But with his nieces in full posses
sion OF it, the clouds Of doubt overshad-
owed his prospects. He knew the sex
well enough to keep these purely selfish
p~erplexities to himself. The waiting
policy was especially the policy to pursue
with a woman as sensitive as Agnes. For
the moment he wisely controlled himself
and changed the subject.
NY little niece's letter has had an
J efect,N he said, which the child never
contemplated in whiting it. She has just
reminded me of one of the objects that
had in calling on you to-day"
Agnes looked at the child's letter. How
does Lucy do that" she asked.
"Lucy's governess Is not the only lucky
nsrson who has bad money left her. Hen
~ answered. us your old nurse in the
house2"
''You don't mean 20 say that nurse has
got a legacy?' ,
"She has got a hundred pounds. Send
, for her, Agnes, while l show You the
, letter."
He took a handful of letters from his
pocket snd looked through them, while
Agnes rang the bell. Returning to him,
she noticed a printed letter among the
80. o,b;cb Low uDop the fable was &